Vehicle lift

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle lift which includes in combination a lifting beam having first and second end portions. Vehicle engaging and lifting means are connected to each of the first and second end portions of the lifting beam. A support frame having first and second end portions is also provided. First connecting links are located at each of the end portions of the beam and each has first and second portions. Second connecting links are also provided each of which has first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween. The first end portions of the first connecting links are pivotally connected to the first and second end portions of the beam, respectively, and the first end portions of the second connecting links are pivotally connected to the first and second end portions of the support frame, respectively. The second end portions of the first connecting links are pivotally connected to the intermediate portions of the second connecting links, respectively. The second end portions of each of the second connecting links are provided with engagement means in the nature of rollers for engaging the lifting beam and motive power means in the nature of piston and cylinder arrangements are connected to the connecting links for raising and lowering the lift.

ited States Patent [1 1 Pelouch [111 3,837,435 1 Sept. 24, 1974 Primary ExaminerRichard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner-Jeffrey V. Nase Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodling, Krost, Granger & Rust [57] ABSTRACT The present disclosure relates to a vehicle lift which includes in combination a lifting beam having first and second end portions. Vehicle engaging and lifting means are connected to each of the first and second end portions of the lifting beam. A support frame having first and second end portions is also provided. First connecting links are located at each of the end portions of the beam and each has first and second portions. Second connecting links are also provided each of which has first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween. The first end portions of the first connecting links are pivotally connected to the first and second end portions of the beam, respectively, and the first end portions of the second connecting links are pivotally connected to the first and second end portions of the support frame, respectively. The second end portions of the first connecting links are pivotally connected to the intermediate portions of the second connecting links, respectively. The second end portions of each of the second connecting links are provided with engagement means in the nature of rollers for engaging the lifting beam and motive power means in the nature of piston and cylinder arrangements are connected to the connecting links for raising and lowering the lift.

PAHNTEB ear-r FIG. 2

VEHICLE LIFT Most vehicle lifts of present day commercial construction include a piston and cylinder arrangement having a length or height of on the order of seven feet and with the cylinder having an outside diameter, for example, of on the order of 18 inches. While this construction has proved to be satisfactory, it has many disadvantages.

It will be quite apparent to those skilled in the art that with such a construction as just hereinabove described, it is necessary to provide a relatively large excavation in order to appropriately bury the cylinder construction which houses the movable piston. It will also be apparent that this piston and cylinder arrangement, when installed on the second floor of a building, results in the inconvenience of having the cylinder project into the upper regions of the first floor, rendering portions of the first floor unusable for other purposes. Other disadvantages resulting from this construction come about in regions where the soil which must be excavated is of a rocky or very solid consistency. This results in extreme difficulty in making the excavation, sometimes necessitating blasting of the rock-type soil. The opposite type of soil also provides inconveniences, namely, soil which is extremely wet such as is encountered in the State of Florida where the water is quite close to the surface.

The structure of the present disclosure obviates essentially all of the above enumerated difficulties in that it requires a very small excavation in order to accommodate essentially all of the lift structure below floor or ground level. Essentially the only portion of the lift structure which remains above ground, in the lowered position of the vehicle lift, are the swing arms and the vehicle engaging pads or structure. The housing within which the aforementioned lift components are carried in the down position of the lift is a structure which is on the order of 28 inches deep, 18 inches wide and 106 inches long. The advantages of the present construction therefore flow from the fact that in the lowered position of the lift essentially all of the components can be housed within a housing which has a vertical height of less than 30 inches. This means that the construction can be installed without the extremely high excavating and installation costs previously encountered in the installation of the aforedescribed prior art vehicle lifts.

The present construction includes a cross beam or support beam which carries swingable arms with vehicle engaging means carried on the outboard ends of the arms. The unique construction of the present invention, in addition to being able to be housed within the very small space referred to above, also assures exact vertical travel of the support beam and the vehicle engaging arms carried thereon so that a vehicle carried by the construction also travels in a precise vertical movement between its lower most and upper most positions.

With the present invention it is not necessary that air pressure be available in order to actuate the piston and cylinder arrangements, it only being necessary that hydraulic fluid pressure be available for actuating the piston and cylinder arrangements which are described hereinafter. Also, it is not necessary that such a large amount of hydraulic fluid be provided as in present prior art lift constructions which is on the order of 40 gallons. In the present structure on the order of five gallons of hydraulic fluid is all that is needed.

The present construction also has an advantage not found in prior art vehicle lifts which is that the lift can be removed and transported to another location with a minimum of difficulty. In the types of prior art vehicle lifts aforementioned which are presently in use, it is a virtual physical and economic impossibility to remove the extremely large piston and cylinder arrangement from the ground once it has been installed.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is an elevational view partially in section of the lift of the present invention showing its installation below ground level and also illustrating the control mechanism for raising and lowering the lift;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the lift shown in FIG. 1 with the swinging arms of the lift in engagement with the frame of a vehicle;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the'vehicle lift of the present invention with the lift in its most vertical position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the lift shown in FIG. 3 showing in the upper portion of the drawing the lift in its raised condition and in the bottom portion of the drawing the lift in its lowered condition;

FIG. 5 is a view taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lift taken generally in the same direction as FIG. 1 and showing a swinging arm in extended and retracted position and also showing the different positions of the vehicle engaging means;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the vehicle lift with the swing arms removed and thedoors of the lift removed;

FIG. 8 is generally a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 6; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged fragmentary views of a portion of FIG. 4 showing some parts in slightly different positions.

The vehicle lift of the present invention which is shown in the accompanying drawings has been indicated generally by the reference numeral 20. This vehicle lift is adapted to raise and lower a vehicle as illustrated in the drawings and it is mounted in an excava tion 22 (FIG. 5) which extends below floor level 23 and is generally rectangular in cross section having a length approximating the width of a vehicle to be handled by the lift and the width of the excavation is generally narrow as compared to its length. The configuration of the excavation 22 is best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings. The entire vehicle lift is contained or housed within a housing 24 which is what might be generally referred to as a rectangular metal box positioned within the excavation and around its upper periphery it is provided with or surrounded by a channel member 26. A second channel member 28 is located adjacent the first channel 26 and slightly inside thereof and also extends around the perimeter of the upper open end of housing 24. This second channel member is supported by angle iron 30 which angle iron 30 is in turn supported by the first channel member 26.

A support frame 33 which includes side members and other supporting structure, which will not be specifically identified in this description, is supported by the previously described channel member 26 and angle iron 30 by means of bolts 35 and in the manner best seen in FIG. 5.

This entire construction which includes the housing and support frame 33 and the associated structure seen in the drawings and particularly FIGS. 4 and 5, is normally shipped in the condition that is seen and the only parts disassembled are the swinging arms and the vehicle engaging pads. When the lift in this condition has reached its point of ultimate use, the excavation 22 is made and the housing 24 with the associated structure is positioned within the excavation as shown in FIG. and properly aligned and levelled to assume the position shown. The personnel making the installation then pour concrete 37 around the housing so as to complete the mounting of the housing. A conduit 39 is provided so as to enable access to the interior of the housing by high pressure fluid lines.

The support frame 33 which is located within the housing has first and second end portions 42 and 43, respectively. A lifting beam 46 is provided which has first and second end portions 47 and 48, respectively. First and second support structures 54 and 55 are carried on the first and second end portions 47 and 48 of the beam, respectively. The lift construction also includes first connecting links at each of the end portions of the beam and these first connecting links are identified by the reference numeral 58 and have first and second end portions 59 and 60, respectively. Second connecting links 64 are provided each of which is provided with first and second end portions 65 and 66, respectively, and intermediate portions 67 therebetween.

The first end portions 59 of the first connecting links 58 are pivotally connected as at 70 to the first and second end portions 47 and 48, respectively, of the beam. The first end portions 65 ofthe second connecting links 64 are each pivotally connected as at 72 to the first and second end portions 42 and 43 of the support frame, respectively. The second end portions 60 of the first connecting links 58 are pivotally connected as at 74 to the intermediate portions 67 of the second connecting links 64.

A roller 78 is rotatively carried by the second end portions 66 of each of the second connecting links 64 and each of the rollers engages the under side of the lifting beam 46 as it travels between its uppermost and lowermost positions as shown in the drawings. The rollers 78 are mounted so as to rotate about their axes 79. FIG. 7 shows the rollers 78 on the respective end portions 66 of links 64 as being offset or out of line from each other as viewed in the direction of the length of the beam 46 so that the rollers do not hit each other as the lift moves between its raised and lowered positions. The structurejust previously referred to is such that the distances between 70 and 74; between 72 and 74; and between 74 and 79 are all equal to each other. With this particular structural arrangement one is therefore assured that the vehicle lift in moving between its lowermost and uppermost positions will travel in a precise vertical line or direction as indicated by the arrows 83 in FIG. 4.

In order to move the vehicle lift between its lowermost and uppermost positions there have been provided first and second piston and cylinder arrangements identified by the reference numerals 80 and 81, respectively. Each of these constructions is the same and it will be noted in the drawings that the hydraulic cylinders are identified by the reference numeral 82 and the piston has not been shown because it is conventional in construction. One end portion of each of the cylinders 82 is pivotally mounted as at 84 and the piston rod which is connected to the piston of the piston and cylinder arrangement is pivotally connected as at 85 to a plate 86 which in turn is suitably attached as by welding to the second connecting link 64. A hydraulic line 88 is fluidly connected to the interior of the cylinder at the same end at which it is pivotally connected at 84 and this serves to either move the lift structure upperwardly when the fluid pressure is admitted to the cylinder or permits downward movement of the lift when hydraulic pressure is removed from the cylinder. As mentioned hereinabove, the lowermost and uppermost position of the lift is shown in the composite view of FIG. 4.

In order to assure that the vehicle lift does not accidentally lower, for example, in the case of a malfunction of the piston and cylinder arrangements, safety lock mechanisms 87 are provided. Each safety lock mechanism includes a member 89 which is pivotally connected as at 90 to the lifting beam 46. Attention is invited to FIGS. 4, 9 and 10 and it will be seen that upward movement of the roller 78 relative to member 89 is permitted and the roller 78, in effect, earns the member 89 out of the way by engagement with surface 91 with pivoted movement of member 89 about its pivotal mounting 90. The reverse movement, however, is prohibited because roller 78 engages surface 92 and the member 89 will not pivot in the opposite direction and as a result the lift, is prevented from lowering.

It is only necessary to manually move the members 89 about their pivots to the position of FIG. 10 so that they will not interfere with the path of travel of rollers 78 and the lift may then be lowered. Rollers 78 engage tabs 93 on their way down and members 89 automatically move back to the positions shown in FIG. 4.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, it will be seen that the support structures 54 and 55 at opposite ends of the lifting beam 46 are each provided with first and second lifting arms 94 and 95, respectively. These lifting arms are mounted for swinging or pivotal movement in a manner known to those skilled in the art and these arms are adapted to be extended in the manner shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 6, also in a conventional manner. The ends of each of these lifting arms are provided with what is referred to as vehicle engaging pads identified by the reference numeral 98, and these pads are adapted to be pivotally moved about their vertical mounting means in the manner shown in FIG. 8 and they are also adapted to be pivoted about a horizontal pivot so as to vary their vertical extent in a manner shown in FIG. 6. This construction will not be discussed in any more detail because it is conventional.

Reference may now be had to FIG. 1 which shows the method utilized in actuating the piston and cylinder arrangements 80 and 81 so as to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure thereto or to remove hydraulic pressure therefrom. FIG. 1 shows an oil tank 101 within which is located an hydraulic fluid pump 103 which is adapted to be actuated or driven by means of an electric motor 105 which is turned on and off by means of a switch 107. Hydraulic fluid under pressure is supplied from the pump 103 to the piston and cylinder arrangements heretofore identified through a fluid conduit 113 also through a check valve 115 which is interposed in this conduit. In other words, when the hydraulic fluid pump is driven by way of the motor, hydraulic fluid under pressure is supplied to the piston and cylinder arrangements through the check valve 115 and conduits 113 and 88. When it is desired that the vehicle lift be low ered the pump 103 is deactuated and fluid under pressure from the piston and cylinder arrangements returns to the oil tank 101 through a conduit 117 in which is interposed a valve 109 which contains a restriction 111. The valve 109 must, of course, be manually held open for this to occur. Hydraulic fluid is prevented from returning to the tank by way of conduit 113 be cause of the check valve 115. The restriction 111 simply serves to regulate the speed of flow back into the oil tank and therefore regulates the lowering speed of the lift.

When it is desired to utilize the vehicle lift to raise a vehicle such as that which is shown schematically in FIG. 2, it is necessary that the lift be in its lowermost position which is shown by the structure in the lowermost portion of FIG. 4. With the lifting arms 94 and 95 on each end of the lifting beam swung out of the way, a vehicle is driven into position over the lift as shown in FIG. 2. The lifting arms and the vehicle engaging pads thereon are then minipulated to a position beneath the frame of the vehicle and after this has been done, the electric motor 105 is actuated to drive the pump 103 and hydraulic fluid under pressure is transmitted to the piston and cylinder arrangements 80 and 81. The connecting links are then caused to move upwardly in the manner and in the direction indicated by the arrows 83 in FIG. 4 and to a position which is shown in FIG. 3. This is caused through the action of the piston and cylinder arrangements 80 and 81 and it will be noted from FIGS. 3 and 4 the large component of force exerted by these components and contributing to the vertical lift of the device. As the lift reaches its uppermost position, the rollers 78 pass by the safety locks 87 causing the lift to be safely positioned in its uppermost condition. When the workman accomplishes whatever work is necessary upon the vehicle and desires to lower the vehicle it is only necessary that the members 89 be manually moved to the position of FIG. 10, the electric motor 105 deactuated and the valve 109 moved to its open condition which permits return of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the oil tank 101. Rollers 78 engaging tabs 93 on members 89 cause the members 89 to be moved to their previous positions.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the housing 24 has doors 120 and 121 which are hinged at 122. The doors are opened by engagement with member 123 upon upward movement of the lift and close by the action of gravity when the lift has moved to its lowermost position.

It will thus be seen from a review of the detailed construction and operation of the present vehicle lift that all of the advantages set forth in the specification are carried out and the given disadvantages of the prior art are overcome. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon study of this specification that a very small excavation need be made in order to install this lift with the resulting economic advantages. It will also be apparent that the frame 33, which carries all of the lifting components and which includes member 28 can be easily removed for servicing from the housing 24 which includes member 26 and which housing 24 and member 26 are embedded in the concrete, by the simple expedient of detaching hydraulic lines 88 and removing bolts 35.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A vehicle lift adapted to raise and lower a vehicle including in combination an excavation extending below floor level which is generally rectangular in cross section, said excavation being of a length approximating the width of and extending in the width direction of vehicles to be handled by said lift and the width of said excavation being generally narrow as compared to said length thereof, a metal box-like housing located in and filling said excavation, a support frame located within and carried by said housing and having first and second end portions, a lifting beam having first and second end portions, first and second support structures carried on said first and second end portions of said beam respectively, first connecting links at each of said end portions of said beam and each having first and second end portions, second connecting links each having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, said first end portions of said first connecting links being pivotally connected to said first and second end portions of said beam, respectively, said first end portions of said second connecting links being pivotally connected to said first and second end portions of said support frame, respectively, said second end portions of said first connecting links being pivotally connected to said intermediate portions of said second connecting links, respectively, a roller rotatively carried by said second end portion of each of said second connecting links and each roller engaging said lifting beam, said rollers being offset from each other so as not to engage each other as the lift is raised and lowered, the distances between the pivotal connections at the first and second end portions of said first connecting link and between the pivotal connections at the first end portion and intermediate portion of said second connecting link and between the pivotal connection at the intermediate portion of the second connecting link and the axis of the roller on said second end portion of said second connecting link all being equal, first'and second piston and cylinder arrangements operatively connected to said second connecting links respectively for raising and lowering said lift, safety lock means carried by said lifting beam and engageable with said rollers to prevent accidental lowering of said lift in the raised position thereof, first and second lifting arms pivotally mounted on each of said support structures and adapted to move through a plane generally normal to the raising and lowering movement of said lift, and vehicle engaging means carried on the end portion of each of said first and second lifting arms.

2. A vehicle lift including in combination a lifting beam having first and second end portions, vehicle engaging and lifting means connected to each of said first and second end portions of said lifting beam, a support frame having first and second end portions, first connecting links at each of said end portions of said beam and each having first and second end portions, second connecting links each having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, said first end portions of said first connecting links being pivotally connected to said first and second end portions of said beam, respectively, said first end portions of said second connecting links being pivotally connected to said first and second end portions of said support frame, respectively, said second end portions of said first connecting links being pivotally connected to said intermediate portions of said second connecting links, respectively, said second end portions of each of said second connecting links being provided with engagement means for engaging said lifting beam, and motive power means operably connected to at least one of said links for raising and lowering said lift, said engagement means on said second end portions of each of said second connecting links being out of line with each other so as not to engage each other in raising and lowering said lift.

3. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 2, wherein said motive power means comprises first and second piston and cylinder assemblies physically connected to said second connecting links, respectively.

4. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first and second piston and cylinder assemblies are op positely disposed to each other and positioned so as to extend at an acute angle with respect to said lifting beam.

5. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 2, wherein said engagement means comprise a roller member for rolling by engaging the underside of said lifting beam in its movement between upper and lower portions.

6. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 5, wherein locking means are provided which comprise a pivoted member connected to said lifting beam which member when engaged by said roller member in movement of said beam to its upper position will move out of the way of said roller member and will move back into the path of said roller and prevent movement of said beam to its lower position until said pivoted member is manually moved out of the path of movement of said roller member.

7. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 5, wherein the distance between the pivoted connections at said first and second end portions of said first connecting link is equal to the distance between the pivotal connection at said first end portion and intermediate portion of said second connecting link and the axis of rotation of said roller member at the second end portion of said second connecting link. 

1. A vehicle lift adapted to raise and lower a vehicle including in combination an excavation extending below floor level which is generally rectangular in cross section, said excavation being of a length approximating the width of and extending in the width direction of vehicles to be handled by said lift and the width of said excavation being generally narrow as compared to said length thereof, a metal box-like housing located in and filling said excavation, a support frame located within and carried by said housing and having first and second end portions, a lifting beam having first and second end portions, first and second support structures carried on said first and second end portions of said beam respectively, first connecting links at each of said end portions of said beam and each having first and second end portions, second connecting links each having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, said first end portions of said first connecting links being pivotally connected to said first and second end portions of said beam, respectively, said first end portions of said second connecting links being pivotally connected to said first and second end portions of said support frame, respectively, said second end portions of said first connecting links being pivotally connected to said intermediate portions of said second connecting links, respectively, a roller rotatively carried by said second end portion of each of said second connecting links and each roller engaging said lifting beam, said rollers being offset from each other so as not to engage each other as the lift is raised and lowered, the distances between the pivotal connections at the first and second end portions of said first connecting link and between the pivotal connections at the first end portion and intermediate portion of said second connecting link and between the pivotal connection at the intermediate portion of the second connecting link and the axis of the roller on said second end portion of said second connecting link all being equal, first and second piston and cylinder arrangements operatively connected to said second connecting links respectively for raising and lowering said lift, safety lock means carried by said lifting beam and engageable with said rollers to prevent accidental lowering of said lift in the raised position thereof, first and second lifting arms pivotally mounted on each of said support structures and adapted to move through a plane generally normal to the raising and lowering movement of said lift, and vehicle engaging means carried on the end portion of each of said first and second lifting arms.
 2. A vehicle lift including in combination a lifting beam having first and second end portions, vehicle engaging and lifting means connected to each of said first and second end portions of said lifting beam, a support frame having first and second end portions, first connecting links at each of said end portions of said beam and each having first and second end portions, second connecting links each having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, said first end portions of said first connecting links being pivotally connected to said first and second end portions of said beam, respectively, said first end portions of said second connecting links being pivotally connected to said first and second end portions of said support frame, respectively, said second end portions of said first connecting links being pivotally connected to said intermediate portions of said second connecting links, respectively, said second end portions of each of said second connecting links being provided with engagement means for engaging said lifting beam, and motive power means operably connected to at least one of said links for raising and lowering said lift, said engagement means on said second end portions of each of said second connecting links being out of line with each other so as not to engage each other in raising and lowering said lift.
 3. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 2, wherein said motive power means comprises first and second piston and cylinder assemblies physically connected to said second connecting links, respectively.
 4. A vehicle lift as claImed in claim 3, wherein said first and second piston and cylinder assemblies are oppositely disposed to each other and positioned so as to extend at an acute angle with respect to said lifting beam.
 5. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 2, wherein said engagement means comprise a roller member for rolling by engaging the underside of said lifting beam in its movement between upper and lower portions.
 6. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 5, wherein locking means are provided which comprise a pivoted member connected to said lifting beam which member when engaged by said roller member in movement of said beam to its upper position will move out of the way of said roller member and will move back into the path of said roller and prevent movement of said beam to its lower position until said pivoted member is manually moved out of the path of movement of said roller member.
 7. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 5, wherein the distance between the pivoted connections at said first and second end portions of said first connecting link is equal to the distance between the pivotal connection at said first end portion and intermediate portion of said second connecting link and the axis of rotation of said roller member at the second end portion of said second connecting link. 